John Fitzgerald Kennedy, often referred to as Jack or by his initials JFK, was the 35th President of the United States. An adamant democrat, Kennedy was also a part of the U.S. Navy Reserve and won several awards for as long as he served there.
Kennedy has published several great books and has passed on some of the greatest and most inspiring quotes throughout his life. Have a look at some of the best John F. Kennedy Quotes:
Things do not happen. Things are made to happen.
One cannot sit idly and wait for things to happen or for any significant event to take place in their life. One has to get to work and make things happen.
You have to put in your best efforts, your time and energy, and your concertation in something if you wish to make it happen. Only then will it actually happen because simply wishing for something to happen is not going to make it happen until and unless you do everything in your power to fulfil that wish.
Let us never negotiate out of fear. But let us never fear to negotiate.
Kennedy has given this beautiful quote through which he passes on a rather important message. It means that one should never negotiate or surrender out of fear. It would be best if you always were fighting head-on and should never give in because losing gracefully is still better than losing your spirit. But one should also never hesitate or be scared of negotiating.
Leadership and learning are indispensable to each other.
The duty of a leader is indeed more complicated and riddled with responsibilities than that of others, but a leader is also always learning. Leadership cannot exist without learning because a leader too makes mistakes and is subject to his/her fears and failures at times and rising above all that is how a leader is constantly learning too.
No one is perfect at what they do, and there is always room for change in almost any and every area of skill or expertise.
The time to repair the roof is when the sun is shining.
When the roof of one's house is broken, the repairing tends to be a rather long and tiring process as it takes time to fix. Kennedy here says that it is always better to fix the roof while the sun is still shining, because if you wait and delay the work, then it will start raining, which then will leave you with no chance. This is why one should start before it gets too late.
Kennedy compares the roof of the house with one's problems and issues that need solving; you should tend to your issues while they are still in a solvable condition and you should always avoid waiting till its too late.
Efforts and courage are not enough without purpose and direction.
Yes, having the courage to do something and putting in the efforts do it is of colossal importance, but if one does not have a sense of purpose or direction, then the former would instantly lose its importance. This is because you need to be sure of what you are doing and why you are doing it; one needs to have the right reasons which then will automatically increase the essence of the work and efforts you put into it.
Mankind must put an end to war before war puts an end on mankind.
Being the President of such a developed country such as the United States, Kennedy has passed on a chunk of his experience through this particular quote.
War is merely a means of obliteration and Kennedy says that if we don't stop violence and war while we still can, then there will come a time when the war will be the end of all of mankind and then it would have been too late.
Our problems are man-made; therefore, they may be solved by man. And man can be as big as he wants. No problem of human destiny is beyond human beings.
If there is a problem, there ought to be a solution because, without one, it would not be a problem in the first place.
No problem or issue is unsolvable and is too big to be out of an individual's reach; if you create a problem, then it is you who holds the key to solving it too, and if you don't have it, then you will find it. All you have to do is look for it and not give up.
If art is to nourish the roots of our culture, then society must set the artist free to follow his vision wherever it takes him.
Art is subjective; everybody has their own perception and version of what art is to them.
If art is meant to nurture and develop, then it is the artist's right to be able to conjure up the idea of art the way they want it. After all, it is about reaching the desired audience. And without change, art is as good as dead.
We must use time as a tool, not as a couch.
A couch is something one usually tends to use for the purpose of relaxation and to let oneself lose. And the use of a tool is that of assisting one and being of one's use. But there are no set ways in which one has to use a couch; however, if one does not use a particular tool the way it is supposed to, then they wouldn't be utilising its efficiency in its totality. In a similar way, one should always use time as a tool instead of taking it for granted and using it as a couch, because it is something that if not used wisely, it will cost you not something which will cater to the needs of your comfort zone.
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Every accomplishment starts with the decision to try.
Trying is an essential aspect of growth because without the willingness to try something new, be it anything, one is not going to be able to move forward in their lives and learn new things, and if that does not happen, there would be no growth.
It is not necessary that every time you try something new or challenging, you will get the desired result, but what if you do succeed? You will never know the answer to that if you never try!
And it is the effort and the thought put behind it is what counts the most.
We must find time to stop and thank the people who make a difference in our lives.
Expressing gratitude and appreciation happens to be a crucial factor in life. You should always take out time for people who once spared time for you, and for people who have ever helped you in life, or simply made a significant change in your life, and let them know that you are thankful for their presence and for the part that they have played in your life.
Do not pray for easy lives. Pray to be stronger men.
Life is like an obstacle course, full of challenges, some of which you might be able to surpass, others would be acting as a lesson and would teach you. So, instead of wishing or praying for an easier life, one which is free of hindrances, pray for a stronger sense of willpower and the ability to handle problems wisely. After all, life without risks and challenges would not be that worth it!
The rising tide lifts all the boats.
Kennedy has compared the difficulties of one's life with that of the ocean's high tide. Just as the rising tide, though looks quite dangerous, ends up lifting a boat, the challenges, and hindrances that life tends to throw at someone, end up uplifting the individual and helping him to evolve and grow in life. Besides, without risks, there is no growth in life.
Let us not seek to fix the blame for the past, let us accept our own responsibility for the future.
The past is unchangeable and cannot be undone. Therefore, rather than trying to fix something that cannot be fixed and trying to correct the blame of the past, one should try and think about avoiding that in future and should learn to accept their responsibilities and the part they play on the basis of future.
Instead of worrying about yesterday which has already passed, think about tomorrow which is yet to come and is still in your control.
Time and the world do not stand still. Change is the law of life.
Time is something that continues to pass people and does not stop for anybody, no matter what takes on. Similar is the case with life; the foundation of life tends to revolve around the sphere of change. Change is thus inevitable, and it is ought to take place whether or not one accepts it which is why individuals should accept change as it comes in their life rather than resent it for the latter is not going to do any good.
We should not let our fears hold us back from pursuing our hopes.
An individual's fears are his worst enemies because it is exactly these inhibitions and doubts that tend to stop him from walking in the direction of change and growth. Something that scares you, will try to stop you from achieving what you want in your life and it is your responsibility to avoid that from happening by letting your willpower and strong mindset win instead of your fears.
All of us do not have equal talent, but all of us should have an equal opportunity to develop those talents.
Everyone is built in a different and unique way and tend to differ in some or the other aspect from everyone else. In the same way, not everybody is good at everything; what happens to be your area of expertise, might not be somebody else's and vice versa. But that does not make the other person's talents any less important or make that person lesser than you in any way because everybody is talented in their own way and tend to hold potential for different things, and we are absolutely no one to judge that. This is why everybody deserves the same opportunity as anybody else to cultivate their talents; no one deserves to feel less or inferior because they aren't.
Peace is a process – a way of solving problems.
Peace should always be the first and the ultimate resort for anything in one's life. It is a way of living and not an accessory. Looking at matters and solving problems with a peaceful mind is going to have you perceive things in a much different way than while you are trying to understand something in haste or within an angry state of mind.
If you try to fix something with patience and peace, you are likely to find its solution quicker than you might in a different state of mind.
One man can make a difference, and everyone should try.
Contrary to popular belief, the efforts, time, and energy of even one man are more than enough to make a difference in the world, if invested in the right place and with the right intention. And therefore, everyone must at least try. This is because it does not matter how big or small the difference is, as long as there is one.
Always forgive your enemies but never forget their names.
One should undoubtedly live by the rule of forgiving people because forgiveness leads to maturity and growth. Especially if the other person is your enemy, you should always be the bigger person and let go, but that does not mean you have to forget too.
Always have a forgiving nature but never let someone do you wrong twice, i.e., forgive but don't forget; remember how they did you wrong so that they are never able to do that again, or anybody else for that matter.
Conclusion
In this article, we have covered a list of the best and top John F. Kennedy Quotes on Leadership, Life, Equality and Democracy. Hope you liked them!
Co-author: Khushi Shah
Khushi has just passed her school and is now studying at PDPU. Apart from writing, she likes to sketch and dance. She also has other blogs where she posts proses and poetry.
